‘Saturday Night Live’: New cast member or Arcade Fire member?

Last night was the 39th season premiere of Saturday Night Live and it marked one of the biggest cast changes in the series’ history. Goodbye to Bill Hader, Jason Sudeikis, Fred Armisen and Tim Robinson (who? this guy). Hello to Beck Bennett, John Milhiser, Kyle Mooney, Mike O’Brien, Noël Wells and Brooks Wheelan, or, as they are collectively known: “Arcade Fire.” Additionally, Seth Meyers is preparing for his departure for Late Night by introducing Cicely Strong as his co-anchor on the Weekend Update desk; but I am not sure that any of us, most especially Cicely, is ready for him to leave.

As for the episode itself, let’s just get this out of the way: TINA FEY IS THE BEST AND SHOULD BE THE HOST EVERY WEEK NO ONE IS WORTHY SHE IS THE QUEEN, &C. I was going to love this episode even if it weren’t one of the strongest episodes of SNL in a long while, BUT GUESS WHAT, IT WAS. And that is because Tina Fey is The Best and her Bestness makes everything else better.

We begin the evening with a political cold open because this is Saturday Night Live and that is how they do. This time, Jay Pharoah’s (increasingly better) President Obama attempts to explain the Affordable Care Act to the American public using a number of confused examples, including a guest appearance by Aaron Paul’s Jesse from Breaking Bad. It’s actually a promising start to the episode and the season! Bonus points to Kate McKinnon’s exasperated E.R. doctor.

Tina Fey gives a masterclass in how to do an opening monologue: self-deprecating humor, meta references to the show, throwing shade on previous hosts (OH, BURN, KATIE HOLMES, YOU CAN’T TAP DANCE), giving props to the cast — in this case, introducing the newest cast members, and a dance number. The only thing her monologue was missing was a walk backstage and input from Lorne. (That will come later.)

If the Girls spoof had just been a straight parody of the HBO show, this sketch would have already been amazing thanks to Vanessa Bayer’s uncanny impersonation of Shoshana. She was soperfect that Mr. T honestly believed that it was Zosia Mamet, and noted how cute it was that she agreed to be in the bit. But to add Tina Fey’s Albanian character Blerta as perspective on how privileged, whiny and spoiled these characters are — that is what makes this brilliant. Bonus points go to Vanessa Bayer for reasons detailed above.

The airplane boarding bit, in which increasingly more ridiculous passengers are allowed to board before our straight men, is a classic SNL sketch in that it takes a relatable event, heightens it, and then has no idea how to bring the whole thing to an end. It’s funny until the steam runs out. (But bonus points to you, Bobby Moynihan, and that look on your face.)

The Game Show sketch could have been a predictable, lazy outing. Instead, by making the game about Tina Fey having to figure out if someone is a new cast member or a member of Arcade Fire, they make fun of Saturday Night Live, hipsters, Arcade Fire and Tina Fey’s celebrity in one fell swoop. Bonus points to Angry Kenan.

I’m sure others will disagree with me, but one of the low points of the night was the E Meth commercial. I get it, it’s like an electronic cigarette, but with meth and it’s funny because meth is illegal and also meth heads, hahaha. But it feels like they were looking for a way to shoehorn Aaron Paul into the episode again while they had him, and, I don’t know, here’s an idea, guys, why not just invite him to host? I’m sure he’d be happy to host! Bonus points to Aaron Paul for agreeing to do this bit, the most obvious thing in the world.

So, big day for Weekend Update: Seth Meyers is sticking around for another half-season (at least), but Cicely Strong is joining him at the desk and will presumably take over once he leaves.

So far, so eh. She’s fine, but she’s no Tina or Amy. (But who is, really?) The highlight of Weekend Update was the return of Drunk Uncle, and his nephew — OH LOOK, IT’S JESSE FROM BREAKING BAD. AGAIN. I will give Saturday Night Live credit for having Aaron Paul only play Jesse in his three appearances in the episode — it’s like how sometimes a joke when told over and over again becomes less funny until it somehow becomes funny again? Also “I’m the one who knock knocks.” Which is so dumb and predictable that it is funny — just like your drunk uncle. You know you have a drunk uncle.

Question: Why are SNL writers so convinced that old-timey movies are inherently funny? Because their bemusement with old movies rarely translates into hahas for us. (Case in point: Last season finale’s “Depression Scene” which was so terrible, you can no longer find it on the internet.)

The Classic Movies bit, in which Tina Fey, Aidy Bryant and Taran Killam, are in a 1940s film that involves A LOT of taxidermy for a preposterous reason, is better than most of the attempts SNL makes at this type of comedy. That said, it’s one of the weakest bits of the night. Bonus points to the wonky-eyed deer head.

Speaking of old-timey sketches, one that works is this First Used Car Commercial with Tina Fey and some new kid. (Gah, I’m going to have to learn all their names now?) Tina Fey’s crazy lady is perfect, because Tina is perfect. Perfect! Bonus points to Tina because perfect.

The final sketch of the evening is what has become an old stand-by: the former porn stars hawking high-end goods while talking about how hard they have been — their term — “banged.” Somewhat surprisingly, they do not use Jesse from Breaking Bad in the role of the interrupting male star, but instead, Tina Fey is the (TWIST!) lesbian former porn star who keeps missing her cue. While the bit is funny, I am still of the mind that it could stand to be retired for a little while. Just a little while! I love Brookie and Other One, but I don’t want get tired of them! Give the girls a rest, they deserve one. Bonus points to the lady bodybuilders who carry Tina Fey into the scene multiple times.

And then the episode ends not with a traditional good night, but with an Arcade Fire dance party which transitions into a late night special, Arcade Fire: Here Comes the Night, that I FORGOT TO RECORD. BLAST YOU, OLD AGE! Fortunately, we live in a glorious day, and the whole thing can be watched on the intertubes. Warning, it’s weird? There are appearances by Michael Cera and James Franco and Bill Hader and Zach Galifianakis, and it’s weird? But if you like Arcade Fire and you like highly conceptual comedy, watch this:

What did you think? Did you love this episode or did you LOVE this episode? Or did you stop watching when Chevy Chase left the cast?

What was the best thing on the 9-28-13 episode of SNL?

Cold Open -- Obamacare

Tina Fey Opening Monologue

Girls Trailer

Airplane Boarding

New Cast Member or Arcade Fire

E Meth Commercial

Weekend Update

Weekend Update: Stand-up Comedian

Weekend Update: Drunk Uncle

Classic Movie

First Used Car Commerical

Manolo Blahnik

Arcade Fire's performances

It's too hard to pick just one because Tina Fey and Aaron Paul ARE THE BEST

None of the above, it was all terrible and a huge disappointment

I stopped watching in 1981, but click on articles about the show so that I can complain that it stopped being funny when Laraine Newman left